Colinet du Puiseur, who was governor for the king in the town of St
Cloud, this place was given up to them. The duke of Orleans instantly
re-garrisoned it, and continually harrassed the Parisians; for now
he could at any time cross the Seine at the bridge of St Cloud, and
attack both sides of Paris at once. Thus were the Parisians oppressed
on all sides by the Armagnacs,--on which account, another proclamation
was issued in the king’s name throughout the realm, complaining of
the continued atrocious and rebellious acts, in spite of the positive
orders of the king to the contrary, committed by the duke of Orleans
and his allies, to the great loss and destruction of his subjects
and kingdom; that since such grievous complaints had been made on
the subject, and were continually made, he was resolved to have a
stop put to such lawless proceedings. The king, therefore, with
mature deliberation of council, now declares the aforesaid family of
Orleans, and their allies, rebels, and traitors to himself and the
crown of France; and in order that henceforward no persons may dare
to join them, he declares, all such to have forfeited their lives and
estates, and by these presents gives power and authority to all his
loyal subjects to arrest and imprison any of the aforesaid rebels, and
to seize on their properties, moveable or immoveable, and to drive
them out of the kingdom, without let or hindrance from any of the
king’s officers. Given at Paris, the 3d day of October, 1411. Signed
by the king, on the report from the great council specially called
for this purpose, at the hôtel de St Pol, when were present the duke
of Acquitaine, the count de Mortain, the count de la Marche, Louis
de Baviere, the lord Gilles of Brittany, the count de St Pol, the
chancellor of France, with many other nobles of high rank.
In consequence of this proclamation, many of the captains and noblemen
of the Armagnacs grew cold in their service, or delayed joining them
according to their former agreements; and fearing greater evils might
befal them by further incurring the indignation of the king, they
withdrew to the king’s party, and excused themselves the best way they
could.
While these affairs were going forward, the duke of Burgundy remained
at Pontoise, as I have before said, and was there joined by numbers of
men at arms, as well vassals to the king as his own.
During his stay at Pontoise, a man of a strong make entered his
apartment, with the intention to murder him, and had a knife hid in
his sleeve to accomplish his wicked purpose; but as he advanced to
speak with him, the duke, having no knowledge of his person, and always
suspicious of such attempts, placed a bench before him. Shortly after,
some of his attendants, perceiving his design, instantly arrested him,
when, on confessing his intentions, he was beheaded in the town of
Pontoise.
The king, in order to strike more terror into the duke of Orleans
and his allies, issued other proclamations throughout his kingdom.
Underneath is the tenour of the one which he sent to the bailiff of
Amiens.
‘Charles, by the grace of God, king of France, to the bailiff of
Amiens, or to his lieutenant, sends health.
‘It has lately come to our knowledge, by informations laid before
our council, that John, our uncle of Berry, Charles our nephew, duke
of Orleans, and his brothers, with John de Bourbon, John d’Alençon,
Charles d’Albreth, our cousin Bernard d’Armagnac, in conjunction with
others, their aiders and abettors, moved by the wicked and damnable
instigations of their own minds, have for a long time plotted to depose
and deprive us of our royal authority, and with their utmost power to
destroy our whole family, which God forbid! and to place another king
on the throne of France, which is most abominable to the hearing of
every heart in the breasts of our loyal subjects.
‘We, therefore, by the mature deliberation of our council, do most
solemnly, in this public manner, divulge these abominable and
traitorous intentions of the aforesaid persons, and earnestly do call
for the assistance of all our loyal subjects, as well those bound to
serve us by the tenure of their fiefs as the inhabitants of all our
towns, who have been accustomed to bear arms, to guard and defend our
rights and lives against the traitors aforesaid, who have now too
nearly approached our person, inasmuch as they have entered by force
our town of St Denis, which contains not only many holy relics of the
saints but the sacred bodies of saints, our crown and royal standard,
known by the name of the Oriflamme, with several other precious and
rare jewels.
‘They have also gained forcible possession of the bridge of St Cloud,
and have invaded our rights, (not to say any thing of our very dear
and well-beloved cousin, the duke of Burgundy, to whom they have sent
letters of defiance,) by setting fire to and despoiling our towns and
villages, robbing churches, ransoming or killing our people, forcing
married women, and ravishing maidens, and committing every mischief
which the bitterest enemy could do. We therefore do enjoin and command
thee, under pain of incurring our heaviest displeasure, that thou
instantly cause this present ordinance to be proclaimed in the usual
places in the town of Amiens, and in different parts within thy said
bailiwick, so that no one may plead ignorance; and that thou do punish
corporally, and by confiscation of property, the aforesaid persons,
their allies and confederates, whom thou mayest lay hands on, as guilty
of the highest treason against our person and crown, that by so doing
an example may be held forth to all others. We also command, under
the penalty aforesaid, all our vassals, and all those in general who
are accustomed to carry arms, to repair to us as soon as possible. Be
careful to have the within ordinances strictly executed, so that we may
not have cause to be displeased with thee.
‘Given at Paris, the 14th day of October, 1411, and in the 32d year of
our reign.’
This ordinance was signed by the king, on the report of his council,
and thus dispatched to Amiens and other good towns, where it was
proclaimed in the usual places, and with such effect on the vassals and
loyal subjects of the king that they hastened in prodigious numbers to
serve him.
On the other hand, very many of those who were of the Orleans-party
were arrested in divers parts of the realm,--some of whom were
executed, and others confined in prison, or ransomed, as if they had
been public enemies. It was pitiful to hear the many and grievous
complaints which were made by the people of their sufferings, more
especially by those in the neighbourhood of Paris and in the isle of
France.
I must not forget, among other circumstances, to relate, that the
Parisians, to the amount of three thousand, as well those of the
garrison as others, sallied out of Paris, and went to the palace of
Winchester (Bicêtre), a very handsome mansion of the duke of Berry,
where, from hatred to the duke, they destroyed and plundered the whole,
leaving the walls only standing.--When they had done this, they went
and destroyed another house, where the duke kept his horses, situated
on the river Seine, not far from the hôtel de Neelle.
The duke was much enraged when he was told of the insult and mischief
that had been done to him, and said aloud, that a time would come when
these Parisians should pay dearly for it.
Affairs daily grew worse; and at length, the duke of Berry, the duke of
Orleans and his brothers, the duke of Bourbon, the counts d’Alençon and
d’Armagnac, the lord d’Albreth, were personally banished the realm by
the king, with all their adherents, of whatever rank they might be, by
sound of trumpet in all the squares of Paris, and forbidden to remain
or set foot within it until they should be recalled.
They were not only banished the kingdom of France, but, by virtue of
a bull of pope Urban V. of happy memory, (preserved in the Trésor des
Chartres of the king’s privileges in the holy chapel at Paris), they
were publicly excommunicated and anathematised in all the churches of
the city of Paris, by bell, book, and candle. Many of their party were
much troubled at these sentences, but, nevertheless, continued the same
conduct, and made a more bitter war than before.
CHAP. XXXVI.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY MARCHES A LARGE ARMY FROM PONTOISE TO
PARIS, THROUGH MELUN.--THE SITUATION AND CONDUCT OF THE DUKE OF
ORLEANS.
I have mentioned, that during the stay of the duke of Burgundy at
Pontoise, he received great reinforcements of men at arms from all
parts: among others, the count de Penthievre, his son-in-law, joined
him with a noble company. Having remained there for about fifteen days,
and made diligent inquiry into the state of his adversaries, on the 22d
day of October, he marched his whole army thence about two o’clock in
the afternoon. As the royal road from that place to Paris was occupied
by the enemy, he quitted it for that through Melun sur Seine, where
he crossed the river with full fifteen thousand horse, and, marching
all night, arrived on the morrow morning at the gate of St Jacques at
Paris. Great multitudes went out of the town to meet him; among whom
were the butchers of Paris, well armed and arrayed, conducted by the
provosts of the Châtelet and of the merchants, under the command of the
count de Nevers, brother to the duke of Burgundy, who was attended by
several princes, noble lords and captains: even the great council of
state went out upwards of a league to meet him, and to do him honour.
Indeed, they all showed him as much deference and respect as they could
have done to the king of France, on his return from a long journey.
With regard to the people of Paris, they made great rejoicings on his
arrival, and sang carols in all the streets through which he passed;
and because his entry was made late in the day, and it was dusk, the
streets were illuminated with great quantities of torches, bonfires and
lanthorns.
On his approach to the Louvre, the duke of Acquitaine, who had married
his daughter, advanced to meet him, and received him with joy and
respect. He led him into the Louvre, and presented him to the king and
queen, who received him most graciously.
Having paid his due respects, he withdrew, and went to lodge at
the hôtel de Bourbon. The earl of Arundel was quartered, with his
attendants, at the priory of St Martin des Champs, and his Englishmen
near to him in the adjoining houses. The rest quartered themselves as
well as they could in the city.
On the morrow, which was a Sunday, Enguerrand de Bournouville, with
many valiant men at arms and archers, as well Picards as English, made
a sally as far as La Chapelle, which the Armagnacs had fortified, and
quartered themselves within it. On seeing their adversaries advancing,
they mounted their horses, and a sharp skirmish ensued, in which
many were unhorsed. Among those who behaved well, sir Enguerrand was
pre-eminent. Near his side was John of Luxembourg, nephew to the count
de St Pol, but very young. Many were wounded, but few killed. The
English, with their bows and arrows, were very active in this affair.
While this action was fought, the Armagnacs quartered at St Denis,
Montmartre, and other villages, hearing the bustle, mounted their
horses, and hastened to cut off the retreat of Enguerrand. He was
informed of this in time, and, collecting his men, retreated toward
Paris; but as the enemy were superior in numbers, they pressed hard on
his rear, and killed and made prisoners several of his men.
The duke of Orleans and the princes of his party, on hearing of the
arrival of the duke of Burgundy with so large an army in Paris, ordered
their men at arms, and others that were lodged in the villages round,
to unite and quarter themselves at St Denis. To provide forage, sir
Clugnet de Brabant was sent with a body of men at arms into the Valois
and Soissonois, where there was abundance. Sir Clugnet acquitted
himself well of his command, and brought a sufficient quantity to
St Denis; for at this time there was great plenty of corn and other
provision in France.
The Armagnacs were, therefore, well supplied; and as they were the
strongest on that side of Paris, they daily made excursions of
different parties as far as the rivers Marne and Oise, and throughout
the isle of France. In like manner, the army of the king and the duke
of Burgundy scoured the country on the other side of the Seine, as far
as Montlehery, Meulan and Corbeil; and thus was the noble kingdom of
France torn to pieces.
There were frequent and severe rencounters between the men at arms of
each side; and a continued skirmish was going forward between those in
Paris and in St Denis, when the honour of the day was alternately won.
Among other places where these skirmishes took place was a mill,
situated on an eminence, and of some strength. In this mill, two or
three hundred of the Orleans-party sometimes posted themselves, when
the Parisians and Burgundians made an attack on them, which lasted even
until night forced them to retreat.--At other times, the Burgundians
posted themselves in the mill, to wait for the assault of their
adversaries.
The duke of Orleans had with him an english knight, called the lord de
Clifford, who had, some time before, joined him with one hundred men
at arms and two hundred archers, from the country of the Bourdelois.
Having heard that the king of England had sent the earl of Arundel,
with several other lords, to the duke of Burgundy, he waited on the
duke of Orleans to request that he would permit him to depart, for that
he was afraid his sovereign would be displeased with him should he
remain any longer. The duke of Orleans having for a while considered
his request granted it, but on condition that neither he himself nor
his men should bear arms against him during the war. The knight made
him this promise, and then returned to England.
On the 6th day of November, Troullart de Moncaurel, governor and
bailiff of Senlis, having marched about six score combatants of his
garrison to the country of Valois, was met by seven score of the
Armagnacs, who vigorously attacked him; but, after many gallant deeds
were done, Troullart remained victorious. From sixty to eighty of the
Armagnacs were taken or slain; and among the prisoners was sir William
de Saveuse, who had followed the Orleans-party, when his two brothers,
Hector and Philip, were in arms with the duke of Burgundy. Thus, in
this abominable warfare, were brothers engaged against brothers, and
sons against fathers. After this defeat, Troullart de Moncaurel and
Peter Quieriet, who had accompanied him, returned with their booty
to Senlis, when, shortly after, by the exertions of the old lord de
Saveuse and the two brothers, Hector and Philip, sir William obtained
his liberty.
CHAP. XXXVII.
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY LEADS A GREAT FORCE, WITH THE PARISIANS,
TO ST CLOUD, AGAINST THE ARMAGNACS.
The duke of Burgundy having remained some time at Paris with his army,
and having held many councils with the princes and captains who were
there, marched out of the town about midnight, on the 9th of November,
by the gate of St Jacques. He was magnificently accompanied by men at
arms and Parisians, among whom were the counts de Nevers, de la Marche,
de Vaudemont, de Penthievre, de St Pol, the earl of Arundel, Boucicaut
marshal of France, the lord de Vergy marshal of Burgundy, the lord de
Heilly, lately appointed marshal of Acquitaine, the lord de St George,
sir John de Croy, Enguerrand de Bournouville, the lord de Fosseux, sir
Regnier Pot governor of Dauphiny, the seneschal of Hainault sir John de
Guistelle, the lord de Brimeu, the earl of Kent, an Englishman, with
many other nobles, as well from Burgundy as from Picardy and different
countries. They were estimated by good judges at six thousand
combatants, all accustomed to war, and four thousand infantry from the
town of Paris.
When they had passed the suburbs, they advanced in good array, under
the direction of trusty guides, to within half a league of Saint Cloud,
where the Armagnacs were quartered. It might be about eight o’clock in
the morning when they came thither, and the weather was very cold and
frosty. Being thus arrived without the enemy knowing of it, the duke of
Burgundy sent the marshal of Burgundy, sir Gaultier des Ruppes, sir Guy
de la Trimouille, and le veau de Bar, with eight hundred men at arms,
and four hundred archers, across the Seine, toward St Denis, to prevent
the enemy from there crossing the river by a new bridge which they had
erected over it. These lords so well executed the above orders that
they broke down part of the bridge, and defended the passage.
The duke, in the mean time, ascended the hill of St Cloud in order of
battle, and at the spot where four roads met posted the seneschal of
Hainault, sir John de Guistelle, the lord de Brimeu, John Phillips and
John Potter[75], english captains, at one of them, with about four
hundred knights and esquires, and as many archers. At another road, he
stationed the lords de Heilly and de Ront, Enguerrand de Bournouville,
and Aymé de Vitry, with as many men as the knights above-mentioned. The
third road was guarded by Neville earl of Kent[76], with some picard
captains; and the Parisians and others, to a great amount, were ordered
to Sevres, to defend that road.
When these four divisions had arrived at their posts, they made
together a general assault on the town of St Cloud, which the Armagnacs
had fortified with ditches and barriers to the utmost of their power.
At these barriers, a notable defence was made by those who had heard of
the arrival of the enemy, under the command of their captains, namely,
sir James de Plachiel, governor of Angoulême, the lord de Cambour,
William Batillier, sir Mansart du Bos, the bastard Jacob, knight, and
three other knights from Gascony, who fought bravely for some time; but
the superiority of numbers, who attacked them vigorously on all sides,
forced them to retreat from their outworks, when they were pursued,
fighting, however, as they retreated, to the tower of the bridge and
the church, which had been fortified.
The whole of the burgundian force which had been ordered on this duty,
excepting the party who guarded the passage of the bridge, now bent all
their efforts against the church. The attack was there renewed with
greater vigour than before, and, notwithstanding the gallant defence
that was made, the church was stormed, and many were slain in the
church as well as at the barriers. Numbers also were drowned of the
crowd that was pressing to re-enter the tower of the bridge, by the
drawbridge breaking under their weight.
It was judged by those well acquainted with the loss of the Armagnacs,
that including the drowned, there were nine hundred killed and five
hundred prisoners. Among these last were sir Mansart du Bos, the lord
de Cambour, and William Batillier. In the town of St Cloud were found
from twelve to sixteen hundred horses that had been gained by plunder,
and a variety of other things.
While this was passing, the duke of Burgundy was with the main army
drawn up in battle-array, on a plain above the town: he had with him
the greater part of the princes, and his spies were every where on the
look-out that the enemy might not surprise him by any unexpected attack.
The engagement at the tower of the bridge was still continued by the
Burgundians, in the hope of taking it; but it was labour in vain, for
those within defended it manfully.
Some of the garrison sallied out on the opposite side, and hastened
to St Denis, to inform the duke of Orleans of the disaster that had
befallen them. He was sorely displeased thereat, and instantly mounted
his horse, accompanied by the duke of Bourbon, the counts d’Alençon
and d’Armagnac, the constable, the master of the cross-bows, the young
Boucicaut, and about two thousand combatants, advanced toward St Cloud,
and drew up in battle-array on the side of the river Seine, opposite to
where the duke of Burgundy was posted, and made every preparation as
if for an immediate combat. The duke of Burgundy and his men likewise
dismounted, drew up in order of battle, and displayed his banner, which
was most rich and splendid. But notwithstanding the eager desire which
these princes showed for the combat, it was to no purpose,--for the
river was between them, so that no damage could accrue to either party,
excepting by some chance bolts from the cross-bows, who shot at random.
When the Armagnacs had remained there for some time, seeing that
nothing effectual could be done, they remounted their horses and
returned to St Denis, leaving, however, a reinforcement to defend the
tower of St Cloud. On their departure, the duke of Burgundy held a
council, and it was determined to march the whole army back to Paris.
The duke lost this day, in slain, not more than from sixteen to twenty;
but there were many wounded, among whom were Enguerrand de Bournouville
and Aymé de Vitry, who had fought well, as did the lord of Heilly. In
like manner, the earl of Arundel and his men behaved gallantly; and it
was one of them who had made sir Mansart du Bos prisoner, but for a sum
of money he resigned him to one of the king’s officers.
The duke of Burgundy, on his return, was received by the Parisians with
great acclamations; for they had heard of his brilliant success, and
they imagined that through his means they should shortly be delivered
from their enemies, who oppressed them sorely. With regard to the king,
the duke of Acquitaine, and the members of the grand council, prelates
as well as seculars, the reception which they gave him, the princes and
the captains of his army, is not to be described.
The duke of Orleans, learning that the duke of Burgundy had returned
to Paris with his army, held a council with the heads of his party,
when, having considered the severe loss they had suffered of the most
expert of their captains, and the great power and numbers of their
opponents, whom they could not at this moment withstand with hopes of
success, they resolved to retire to their own countries, and collect a
sufficient army to oppose any force the king and the duke of Burgundy
should bring against them. This was no sooner determined than executed;
for they instantly packed up their baggage, and, crossing the
newly-erected bridge over the Seine, which they had repaired, and the
bridge of St Cloud, hastily marched all night toward Estampes, and then
continued their route to Orleans, and to other towns and castles under
their obedience.
Thus, therefore, the duke of Orleans, in seeking vengeance for the
death of his father, gained only disgrace and great loss of men. Such
of them as were slain in the field, at the battle of St Cloud, were
there inhumanly left without sepulture, as being excommunicated, a prey
to dogs, birds, and wild beasts. Some lords of his party, such as sir
Clugnet de Brabant, sir Aymé de Sarrebruche, the lord de Hufalize, and
many more, passed through the county of Valois to Champagne, and thence
to their own homes.
News of this retreat was, very early on the morrow, carried to the
duke of Burgundy and his captains at Paris. Some of them mounted their
horses, and went to St Denis, when all that the Armagnacs had left was
seized on and pillaged: they even arrested and carried away, in the
king’s name, the abbot of St Denis, for having admitted his enemies
into that town. Many of the principal inhabitants were also fined,
notwithstanding the excuses they offered. Others of the duke’s officers
went to the town of St Cloud, which they found abandoned.--Many pursued
the Armagnacs, but in vain; for they had marched all night, and were at
a considerable distance before the news of their decampment had reached
Paris.
A few days after, the king, by the advice and entreaties of the duke
of Burgundy, bought the greater part of the prisoners made at the late
battle, by paying their ransoms to those who had taken them. In the
number was Colinet, thus surnamed by many, who had betrayed the bridge
of St Cloud to the duke of Orleans; and on the 12th day of November, he
and five of his accomplices were beheaded in the market-place at Paris:
his body was quartered, and the five others were hung up by the arms on
the gibbet at Montfaucon.
On the 13th of the same month, a sermon was preached in the
church-square, before the porch of Nôtre Dame in Paris, by a Friar
Minor, in the presence of the duke of Burgundy, many princes, and a
great concourse of people,--in which he said that the bulls given by
pope Urban V. had been of the utmost efficacy against the rebellious
subjects of the king, and publicly denounced the duke of Orleans and
his party as excommunicated. They were also thus denounced in many
other succeeding sermons.